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This article has many questionable information and is under research by many people. The current state is only good for starter collectors to understand the basics about this piece.


The C3 NBCW Protective Mask is a full-face respirator developed by the General Tire and Rubber company of Canada (GTR), with the earliest examples dating back to the 1960s, though evidence suggests they may have been around in the 1950s as well. Before this mask was known as the C3, it was called the No. 2 Mk. 2/1 NBCW Protective Mask and was issued alongside upgraded Mk. I and II Canadian Light Respirators.

The C3 has evolved over its life but most of the core components remained consisted, seemingly meaning that the mask would never change its name after it was renamed C3. There are four primary versions of the C3 which have been found thus far. Originally, the C3 used the same rubber mask, valve holder and cover as seen on all other models, however, the original model of C3 featured a British-spec head harness known as the No. 4 Mk. 4 harness, did not feature a vomit guard inside of the mask, and was fitted with the US M11 Canister.

The most common type of C3 is the second type. This type features the aforementioned core components but now is usually found issued with aluminium eyepieces, a new head harness, and a new canister known as the C1 canister. This is the most common C3 seen on the surplus market and former-Danish models are often found on eBay and other sites.

After this model, the traditional method of securing the container mount and valve holder, two wires tightened, snipped, flattened and covered by fabric tape, was replaced with the use of a special set of securing clips. It is said that these clips were prone to bursting open, so were apparently replaced eventually.

An additional model of C3 exists which features a special container mount with both a 60mm and 40mm thread. It is assumed that these were used for export, some sources confirming that they were used by the Dutch.

The rubber mask used on the C3 is known as the C-1 and serves as a hybrid of the British L1 and L3 rubber masks. For an unknown reason, this rubber mask retains the L1's triangle mount at the centre of the rubber mask. However, the C-1 rubber mask features many of the changes introduced with the British L3 rubber mask such as a more flexible and finer cut rubber and three support beams inside the rubber mask as opposed to the one beam seen on the British L1 and Canadian L3/C rubber masks used on Mk. 1 Light Respirators.

Another rubber mask exists with an unknown name. This alternate rubber mask does not feature a central triangle mount but instead has the flat nose as typical of the British L2 and L3 rubber masks. These are mostly seen used later into the life of the C3 but can be seen earlier as well.

Cite needed on virtually all of this.

Facepiece Designations & Identification[]

Protective Mask, NBCW, No. 2, Mk. 2/1[]

Protective Mask, NBCW, C3[]

Components[]

Masks, Rubber (rubber mask)[]

No. L3/C (?)[]

No. C-1[]

Unknown Designation "Bump" Type[]

Holders, Valve[]

Unknown Designation Standard Type[]

Valve Guards[]

Internal Valve Guard:

External Valve Guard:

Speech Transmitter[]

Head harness[]

No. 4, Mk. 4[]

Foreign variants[]

The Netherlands[]

Dutch Armed forces demanded new type of mask due to their inventory of obsolete masks such as K-52. Baron and General Tire Rubber Company exported this masks for further military use and civil defence for Netherlands.

The later Baron produced C3s had a black voice diaphragm cover and a different exhale valve

Some late models of Dutch C3's had glued 40mm adapter to filter port for expand the service life of this mask.

The Dutch line of C3 masks exists of 3 versions, 1 2 and 3

Version 1 is the standard Canadian C3

Version 2 is the standard C3 modified to the Dutch version with the black voice emitter material and exhale valve protector.

Version 3 is the standard Baron C3 as explained above

Denmark[]

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References[]

http://www.gasmaskforum.com/anybody-knowledgable-about-the-canadian-c3-mask-t638.html

http://mygasmaskcollection.blogspot.com/2008/06/gas-mask-collection.html

https://dutchhelmets.nl/militaria-nederland-netherlands-dutch/gasmasker-gas-mask-nbc-cbrn-abc/krijgsmacht-leger-landmacht-marine-politie-armed-forces-army-police.html

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